Daily Times

MOSCOW: Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored the opening goal in spectacular fashion against Nigeria, taking two delicate touches on his thigh and foot from an Ever Banega through ball before hitting the back of the net with his weaker foot. After the Nigeria match, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner shocked a journalist when he showed him that he was wearing the lucky ribbon sent by the reporter’s mother to lead his national side into the next round. After Argentina’s match against Iceland, TV reporter Rama Pantarotto gave the Barcelona man the ribbon sent by his mother as a good luck charm to help Argentina qualify. Later, when Pantarotto asked Messi if he still remembers the good-luck charm ribbon, his response took the reporter completely by surprise. “Look,” he said, showing the ribbon under his sock when asked about it by the stunned reporter. “Really?” the journalist said in reply as Messi confirmed it was the same ribbon. “You are about to give me a heart attack, seriously,” the reporter then exclaimed.

Published in Daily Times, June 29^th 2018.